Religion For Dummies

Gain a deeper understanding of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and other faiths!

A wise and witty road map for exploring life’s big questions

Why are we here? How should we live? What happens after we die? Why does evil exist? This lively and informative reference explains how the world’s great religions answer these questions and shows how religious beliefs and rituals give meaning to life and help us cope with conflict, adversity, marriage, and much more!

The Dummies Way

Explanations in plain English "Get in, get out" information Icons and other navigational aids Tear–out cheat sheet Top ten lists A dash of humor and fun

Introduction.

Part I: In the Beginning: Religion Basics.

Chapter 1: Holy Smoke! Defining Religion.

Chapter 2: Four Big Mysteries and a Couple of Recent Conundrums.

Chapter 3: The God Questions: Does He Exist and What′s He Like?

Chapter 4: When Good Religions Go Bad.

Part II: Religious Beliefs.

Chapter 5: The Foundations of Faith.

Chapter 6: The Amazing Variety of Spiritual Beings.

Part III: Religious Rituals.

Chapter 7: Rituals of Communal Worship.

Chapter 8: Rituals of Individual Devotion.

Chapter 9: Holy Days in Our Lives: Rites of Passage.

Part IV: Religious Ethics.

Chapter 10: Personal Virtues.

Chapter 11: Public Virtues.

Chapter 12: Religion and Some Really Hot Ethical Issues.

Part V: All (Other) Things Holy.

Chapter 13: Holy Books.

Chapter 14: Holy People.

Chapter 15: Holy Places.

Chapter 16: Holy Houses.

Chapter 17: Holy Days on the Calendar.

Part VI: The Part of Tens.

Chapter 18: Ten (or so) Jobs for the Devoted.

Chapter 19: Ten Tales for Your Reading Enjoyment.

Appendix: A Few Religions of the World.

Index.

Rabbi Marc Gellman and Monsignor Thomas Hartman host cable TV′s The God Squad and appear frequently on Good Morning America and Imus in the Morning. They have written several children′s books on religion.